Grains of Knowledge

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The following is the second post in a three-part series on farming and agribusiness technology. The series offers an overview on how farming tech advancements, such as artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, can improve agribusiness operations. Artificial Intelligence or maybe you call them robots have arrived in almost every walk of life. What they mean for you, the farmer and in turn everyone’s grocery bill is quite remarkable. Rise of the Robots? Not really. Artificial Intelligence focuses on creating smart machines to learn, analyze and maximize tasks normally requiring human intelligence. So no, robots are not going to take over […]

The following is the first post in a three-part series on farming and agribusiness technology. The series offers an overview on how farming tech advancements, such as artificial intelligence and satellite imagery, can improve agribusiness operations. Would you have guessed that agriculture is one of the fastest changing industries due to technology? One of these technologies is satellite imagery. Are you curious to see how the two go hand in hand? Satellite Imagery Technology: What Is It? Think Google or Apple Maps but far more in depth. Farms use the angles and insights provided by images to make informed […]

Cultivating Growth: Westfield’s Promise to Agribusiness Customers The following is the second post in a two-part series on our Agribusiness brand. The series will give an overview of our brand and its history, and how it impacts our customers moving forward. In a previous post, we discussed the promise of Westfield’s Agribusiness Department. But, how do they impact you, our valued customer? Westfield is committed to not only providing reliable insurance solutions, but also to providing valuable advice and insight into helping your business grow. Westfield understands the competitiveness of the agricultural industry, the evolving nature of the industry itself […]

Cultivating Growth: Our Farm and Agribusiness Pillars of Strength The following is the first post in a two-part series on our Agribusiness brand. This series will offer an overview of our brand and its history, and how it impacts our customers moving forward. Our Agribusiness Department (ABD) has been a cultivator of growth and success for the farm and agriculture industries for nearly 170 years. Even after so many years, the core of our business has always come down to the people—our team, agents, staff and support, and most importantly our customers. But, what truly separates Westfield from other providers? […]

Westfield Insurance is pleased to introduce three new states joining our WesCom Farm family — Arizona, Colorado and Wisconsin. As of May 2, agents in those states are able to enter, quote and submit farm policies directly from our system.

It’s harvest time and all of your hard work has finally come to fruition. But as the days get shorter and you rush to get crops in during the harvest window, it can be tempting for you and your employees to cut corners.

Running a farm comes with more than its fair share of challenges — weather, energy costs and price volatility all contribute to uncertainty when it comes to revenue. One thing that farmers can do to help offset some of this risk is to add other revenue streams, such as “agritainment” — turning your farm into an entertaining venue for nonfarmers to visit with their families.

Now that the weather is changing, outdoor activities such as pools, beaches, sporting events, parks and the like less likely to entice a family excursion. To offer communities a fun alternative to out-door amusement, farms can leverage the fall, year-round activities that blend agriculture with entertainment.

Earlier this year, I attended a Farm Succession Planning seminar offered by Braintree Business Development Center and the Ohio Employee Ownership Center where I learned some of the foundations regarding estate planning.